Organization = Efficiency not Perfection

Do you set out to straighten up the entire house and get stuck in one drawer that needs perfecting before moving on to the next? If you tend to organize in this way, you may be inhibiting yourself from ever getting to that place of order that you desire. Here are some tips to help you accomplish what you set out to do:

Use a timer. Decide how much time you have to organize a particular area.

Set a goal. In that amount of time, decide how much of the space you can realistically get through, and commit to getting through all of it.

Don’t get caught in the “Chaos Circle”. If the things you are making decisions about and putting away when you organize don’t have a “home” you will get caught in the chaos circle, meaning that you’ll just put it back down into another pile! Everything you organize needs a place to belong.

Keep moving. Don’t get caught in the details of perfect organization. When organizing a kitchen for example, you may not be able to alphabetize all of the spices (nor should you for that matter). Good enough organizing is better than no organizing at all.

Remember, organization is about efficiency, not perfection. Keep your eye on the big picture to maintain basic order, when time allows focus in on the details to bring your systems to a higher level.

Monica Friel is president and founder of Chaos to Order. Monica manages and trains a staff of professional organizers who specialize in everything from household clutter to corporate chaos. She also represents brands and speaks publicly as an expert in the field of organizing.
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